We have a weekly Movie Night at our house. It's sacred, and it's the time when we make it a point to discover a new film we haven't seen yet, preferably something that's not mainstream.  

Okay, so I signed up to do this party-gig-bash for a bunch of three-year-olds in June, and now I have to deliver on the goods. Because who wants to anger a gaggle of toddlers in the heat of summer? Not me, that's who. 

Candace Jackson just wrote an interesting piece for the Wall Street Journal about luxury, over-the-top spaces for kids. It's tempting to focus on the money being spent on these elaborate bedrooms and "teen lounges," but what I find much more interesting is the reason many parents cite for creating these teen havens at home and how it may affect kids and the family dynamic. 

When it's time to let people know you've got a bun in the oven, what's the best way to do it? Recently we've seen a trend in photo announcements that get posted on blogs or Facebook pages to reveal to the world that a baby is on the way. 

When a friend told me he was considering planting two trees to celebrate the birth of his friends' new baby twins, I must admit I swooned. Birth-trees! Such a sweet idea, but there are a few things to consider...

Oh, man, I love a good family meeting! Whether it's held to determine how best to spend a beautiful weekend, what to buy/make for family Christmas presents, or how everyone's feeling about moving into a new home, a family meeting is the perfect chance to hash things out, express concerns, brainstorm, eat pretzels, and figure things out as a family — and official notebooks make it even more fun!

Here's a little Friday fun: it's that time of year when the Social Security Administration releases the most popular baby names of the past year. It's always a fun barometer of the parenting Zeitgeist. Here are some highlights including a fast-rising name attributable to "Game of Thrones"...

As if tea and booze weren't useful enough as we slogged our way through this looooong winter, several savvy artists- and one parent- have found ways to incorporate the delicious drinks into their art...